Electrical switch



G. A. ELLIOTT ELECTRICAL SWITCH Filed May 25, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 l/vvewroa 650/90: Afluorr ATTORNEY 9, 1941. G. A. ELLIOTT ELECTRICAL swI'rcfi Filed May 25, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Dec. 9, 1941 ELECTRICAL SWITCH George Albert Elliott, Toronto, Ontario. Canada,

assignor to James Louis, Mo.,

R. Kearney Corporation, St. a corporation of Missouri Application May 25, 1938, Serial No. 209,958

Claims. (Cl. 200-114) This invention relates 'generally to electrical switches of the high tension, fused, disconnect type, and more specifically to an electrical switch of the type mentioned which is held in the closed switch position by a fuse link that includes a fusible element or portion adapted to be ruptured by a fault onthe line with which the switch is associated so as to permit the terminal-bridging member of the switch to trip or drop out of the 'closed switch position to the open switch position,

the predominant object of the invention being to provide an electrical switch of this type which is of extremely simple and inexpensive construction and is capable of performing its intended function in a highly eflicient manner.

Fig. 1 is a vertical section of the improved switch, with parts thereof shown in elevation and illustrating the switch in the closed switch posi-' tion.

Fig. 2 is an inverted plan view of the switch as illustrated in Fig. 1 with parts shown in section.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary cross-section taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a side elevation, on a slightly reduced scale, of the improved switch, with portions thereof broken away to illustrate parts that would be otherwise concealed, and showing the switch in the open switch position,

In the drawings, wherein is shown for the purpose of illustration, merely, one embodiment of the invention A designates the improved switch generally. The switch A includes a housing 1 formed of porcelain or other suitable electrical insulating material which is closed at its top, sides, and ends by wall portions, but is open at its bottom as shown in the drawings. The housing i has fixed to it by means of the bolt assembly 2 a suitable bracket 2 which is adapted to be secured to a crossarm or other support (not shown) in order to mount the switch in position for use. In Figs. 1, 3, and 4, the bracket is broken away in order to conserve drawing space.

Located within the housing i at one end thereof, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 4, is a member 3 which serves the dual function of acting as one of the terminals of the switch and providing a support for the fuse cartridge of the switch which will be hereinafter described in detail. The member 3 includes a bar 4 that extends transversely of an end wall of the housing and is provided with a shank 5 extended therefrom which passes through an opening 8 formed through said end wall, said shank being screwthreaded and having a nut i mounted thereon which serves to secure the iii may be interposed between the bar 4 and the inner face *of the end wall of the housing and between the nut l and the outer face of said end wall of. the housing. The shank 5 of the member 3 is provided with an extension 9 on which is mounted a suitable connector ID for mechanically and electrically connecting a conductor (not shown) to said extension. As shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 4 the housing I has an extension la projected therefrom which overhangs the connector i0 and other parts associated with the member 3.

The member 3 includes elements II which are extended inwardly of the housing i and are spaced apart transversely of'said housing as shown to the best advantage in Fig. 2. The elements ii of the member 3 are provided with coinciding slots l2 which are shaped as shown to the best advantage in Fig. 1; that is to say, each slot includes a vertical portion 12a which is provided with a flared opening no at its lower end, an upper portion l2e which is inclined upwardly slightly from the upper end of the slot portion iZa toward the location of the bar 4, and a vertical portion l2d which extends downwardly from the inclined upper slot portion l2e in substantial parallelism with respect to the slot portion l2e. The slot portion |2d of each element Ii terminates at its lower end in a substantially semicircular trunnion bearing l2e as shown in Fig. 1, an overhanging portion i 3 of each element H being provided with rectangularfaces Ba and l3b which serve a purpose to be hereinafter set forth. As shown to the best advantage in Fig. 2 the portions ii? of the elements ii are flared outwardly for a purpose to be hereafter explained, and also as shown in Fig. 2 the end wall of the housing I at which the member 3 is arranged is provided with an opening l4 that is open at the bottom of said end wall and extends upwardly thereof to a point below the opening 6, said opening 14 being slightly wider than the space between the elements ll of said member 3.

Located at the end of the housing opposite to the end thereof at which the member 4 is disposed is the other terminal of the switch. This other terminal includes a screw-threaded element IS on which a nut 16 is mounted at its outer end, said element i5 being disposed in an opening I! formed through the adjacent end wall of the housing, and a washer l8 being interposed between the nut i6 and the outer face of the end wall of the housing. The inner end portion of the element i5 has a screwthreaded opening member 3 to the housing. If desired washers 8 formed therein which receives the screwthreaded shank of a screw IS. The shank of the screw I9 passes through an opening formed through a member 29 and through an upwardly extended loop 2| of a spring 2|, said spring loopbeing seated in a recss 20a formed in the vertical leg of the member 20 as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 1, and being interposed between said vertical leg of said member 2|] and a washer 22 which contacts with the inner face of the adjacent end wall of the housing. The screw l9 securely fastens together the member 20, the spring 2|, and the element l mechanically and also provides good electrical connection of said parts. In addition to the vertical leg of the member 20 said member includes a horizontal leg which contacts with the lower face of the top wall of the housing the vertical and horizontal legs of said member 20 being joined by a curved member portion. Also at the outer end of the horizontal leg of the member 20 opposed abutments 23 are formed which serves a function to be hereinafter described.

The spring 2|, at the lower ends of the portions thereof which provide the vertical loop 2|, is provided with opposed coiled portions flu, and extended from said looped portions are spring extensions 24 which, adjacent to their outer free ends are shaped to provide keepers 25. The coiled portions of the spring 24 give resiliency to said spring which tends to move the outer ends of the spring extensions 24 to the position in which they are shown in Fig. 4 where said outer ends of said spring extensions contact with the abutments 23. Also with regard to the terminal of which the spring 2| forms a part, it is to be noted that the element I5 is provided with an extension 26 on which a suitable connector 21 is mounted, said connector serving to electrically and mechanically connect a conductor (not shown) to said extension. Additionally the housing I is provided with an extension lb which overhangs the connector 21 and adjacent parts of the terminal with which the connector is associated. The end wall of the housing I which supports the terminal of the switch of which the spring 2| forms a part is provided with an opening 28 similar to the opening l4 formed in the opposite end wall of the housing.

The improved switch includes a fuse cartridge C which serves as the terminal-bridging element of the switch, said cartridge comprising a tube structure 29 having a trunnion-supporting member 30 at one of its ends and a head 3| at its opposite end. The trunnion-supporting member 39 is in the form of a sleeve as shown to the best advantage in Fig. 2 a portion of which embraces an end portion of the sleeve structure 29 of the cartridge and is fixed thereto, saidv sleeve being provided with a transverse wall 30' against which the end face of said end portion of the tube structure abuts. The transverse wall 30 of the trunnion-supporting member 30 has a centrally located opening formed therethrough in which the head element 32 of a fuse link 33 is disposed, said head element 32 being provided with an enlarged cap portion 34 that contacts with a face of said transverse'wall. The fuse link is provided with a fusible portion and said fuse link extends'longitudinally through thetubular structure as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 1. The end portion of the trunnion-supporting member 30 opposite to the portion thereof that embraces the tubular structure, is internally screwthreaded and screwed into this screwthreaded portion is a plug 35 which contacts with the cap portion of the head of the fuse link so as to force said cap portion into close electrical contact with the transverse wall 39 of the trunnion-supporting member 30. The trunnionsupporting member 30 is provided with outwardly extended trunnions 3B which in the normal operating condition of the switch extend into the trunnion bearings |2e of the slots l2 formed in the elements ll of the member 3. As shown in Figs. 1 and 4 the trunnions 36 when viewed in end elevation are semicircular in shape, being each provided with a fiat face 36.

The head 3| of the fuse cartridge C is in the form of a sleeve which embraces and is fixed to 1 the tubular structure 29, said head and said tubular structure being open at the outer end of the head. The head 3| has formed thereon a rigid, curved arm 31 and pivotally attached to said arm 31 by means of a pivot pin 38 is a latch member 39, said latch member being provided with extension means 39 and the pivot pin 38 being extended through alined openings formed in the arm 31 and in the extension means. When viewed in elevation as shown in Fig. 3 the latch member comprises a wider upper portion from which an extension 40 is projected upwardly, and formed at opposite ends of said wider upper portion of the latch member are extensions 4| which project toward the adjacent end wall of the housing Between the extensions 4| the latch member is provided with a nose portion 42 which is so shaped that it may enter the keeper portions 25 of the spring extensions 24 as shown in Fig. l. Immediately below the nose portion 42 thereof the latch member 39 is reduced in width as shown at 43 in Fig. 3. The portion 43 of the latch member.

is of a width that corresponds approximately to the diameter of the tubular structure 29, said latch member being curved at its lower end as shown in Fig. 3. The latch member is provided with an opening 44 which when the switch is in the closed switch position as shown in Figs. 1 and 3 is in alinement with the opening through the tubular structure, and an aperture 45 is formed in said latch member which is open at an outer edge of the latch member and communicates with the opening 44. Also adjacent to a portion of the edge of the opening 44 the latch member is provided with a thickened and enlarged portion 46 which is provided with a curved outer face 46'.

The head 3| of the fuse cartridge C of the switch includes an extension 41 through which a screwthreaded opening is formed, said screwthreaded opening supporting a wing screw 48 which serves to mechanically and electrically clamp an end portion of the fuse link 33 to said extension 41 as shown in the drawings. It is to be noted that in the normal fused condition of the cartridge C of the switch the fuse link 33 is drawn taut through the tubular structure 29 of the cartridge and said fuse link is turned about the portion 46 of the latch member in contact with the curved face 46 thereof, whence said fuse link extends to the wing screw 48 by which it is clamped to the extension 41 of the head of the cartridge. Because of this arrangement the lower end portion of the latch member 39 is held firmly against the adjacent end of the tubular structure 29 of the cartridge and said latch member is maintained in a position where it extends at an approximate right angle with respect to the axis of the tubular structure of the fuse cartridge.

The extension 41 of the head 3| of the fuse cartridge has formed thereon a pull ring 49 which may be engaged by a switch stick for closing the the head of the fuse cartridge is provided with a projected portion 50 in which an elongated opening 50' is formed for receiving a certain type of switch stick which may be employed for elevating the fuse cartridge so that its trunnions 36 may be brought into engagement with the member 3. Additionally the trunnion-supporting member 30 is provided with an extension which is provided with an opening 51' shaped as shown in Fig. 1, and this opening is adapted to receive a portion of a switch stick of a different type frequently employed by persons servicing switches of the general type to which the switch of the present invention relates.

In the operation of the improved switch disclosed herein the fuse cartridge is positioned as shown in Fig. 1 when the switch is in the closed switch position. That is to say, the fuse link 33- is threaded through the tubular structure 29 of the fuse cartridge and is passed around the portion 46 of the latch member 39 to hold said latch member in the position in which it is shown in Fig. l, the fuse link, as already explained herein, being clamped to the extension 41 of the head of the fuse cartridge by the wing screw 48. With the fuse cartridge in the closed switch position, as shown in Fig. 1, the nose portion 42 of the latch member 39 is engaged by the keepers 25 of the spring extensions 24, and because movement of said nose portion into the keepers of the spring extensions moved said spring extensions rearwardly against the action of the coiled portions 2! of the spring 20, said strained spring extensions will exert an outward force against the upper portion of the pivotally supported latch member which tends to move the lower portion of the latch member away from the end of the tubular structure and thereby tensions the fuse link 23.

Assume, now, with the switch in the closed switch position a fault occurs on the'line with which the switch is associated that is sufficient to rupture the fuse link. Such parting of the fuse link will free the lower portion of the latch member 39 from restraint and the spring extensions will swing the latch member on its pivot 38 moving the upper portion thereof forwardly and the lower portion rearwardly. This movement of the latch member will free the nose of the latch member from the keepers of the spring extensions 24 and at the same time a portion of the ruptured fuse link will be drawn from within the tubular structure of the fuse cartridge by movement of the lower end of the latch member to separate the ruptured ends of the fuse link and thereby quickly extinguish the arc formed between said ruptured ends of said fuse link. The freed end of the fuse cartridge then drops downwardly as illustrated in Fig. 4 from the position in which it is shown in Fig. 1 to the dotted line position of said cartridge shown in Fig. 4, the faces 36' of the trunnions 35 contacting with the faces Nb of the member 3 to arrest the swinging movement of the fuse cartridge.

To re-fuse the cartridge after the fuse link has been ruptured the wing screw is unscrewed to release one fragment of the ruptured fuse link and the plug 35 (Fig. 2) is removed to permit removal of the other fragment of the fuse link. A new fuse link is then threaded through the tubular structure of the fuse cartridge and the plug 35 is replaced, the opposite end portion of the fuse l1nk being passed through the aperture 45 into the opening 44 of the latch member and being turned about the portion 46 of the latch member and clamped to the extension 41 of the head 3| of the fuse cartridge by means of the wing screw 49.

The fused fuse cartridge is then ready for application to the terminals of the switch and this is accomplished by raising the fuse cartridge in a vertical position with the trunnion bearing end uppermost, with the aidof a switch stick applied to the extension 59 or the extension 5! and by moving the trunnions 39 through the slots i2 of the elements ll of the member 3 to position said trunnions in the trunnion bearings He. The opposite end of the fuse cartridge is then elevated to cause the keepers 25 of the spring extensions 24 to engage the nose portion 42 of the latch member when the fuse cartridge will be held in the closed switch position in which position it is again ready to be operated upon the occurrence of a fault on. the line.

It is to be noted that the abutments 23 limit outward movement of the spring extensions 24 when the fuse cartridge drops out of the closed switch position. Also the opposed extensions 4| at opposite ends of the nose portion of the latch member 39 prevent the spring extensions 24 from spreading beyond the opposite ends of the nose portion of the latch member. Additionally the faces |3a of the member 3 hold the trunnion bearing end of the fuse cartridge in its proper position when said fuse cartridge is in the closed switch position.

I claim:

1. An electrical switch including an insulating housing disposed in a substantially horizontal position and open at the bottom, a terminal supported by a wall of said housing in such manner that a portion of said terminal is disposed within said housing and another portion of said terminal is extended outside of said housing, a second terminal supported by an opposite wall of said housing in such manner that a portion of said second terminal is disposed within said housing and another portion of said second terminal is extended outside of said housing, extensions formed on said housing which overhang the portions of the first mentioned and secondmentioned terminals which are extended outside of the housing, a fuse cartridge for bridging said first-mentioned and second-mentioned terminals and movable into closed switch position and open switch position, and a fuse link for holding said fuse cartridge in the closed switch position when said fuse link is intact and adapted to permit the fuse cartridge to move to the open switch position when said fuse link is ruptured.

2. An electrical switch including an insulating housing disposed in a substantially horizontal position and open at the bottom, said housing being provided with a top wall, side walls, and end walls, a terminal supported by one of the end walls of said housing in such manner that a portion of said terminal is disposed with in said housing and another portion of said terminal is extended outside of said housing, a second terminal supported by the opposite end wall of said housing in such manner that a portion of said second terminal is disposed within said housing and another portion of said second terminal is extended outside of said housing, extensions formed on said housing in substantial alinement with the top wall thereof which overhang the portions of the first-mentioned and second-mentoned terminals which are extended outside of the housing, a fuse cartridge for bridging said first-mentioned and second-menthe open switch position when said fuse link is ruptured.

3. An electrical switch including an insulating housing disposed in a substantially horizontal position and open at the bottom, said housing being provided with a top wall, side walls, and end walls, a terminal supported by one of the end walls of said housing in such manner that a portion of said terminal is disposed within said housing and another portion of said terminal is extended outside of said housing, a second terminal supported by the opposite end wall of said housing in such manner that a portion of said second terminal is disposed within said housing and another portion of said second terminal is extended outside of said housing, extensions formed on said housing in substantial alinement with the top wall thereof which overhang the portions of the first-mentioned and secondmentioned terminals which are extended outside of the housing, a hanger formed of electrical conducting material secured to said top wall of said housing, a fuse cartridge for bridging said firstmentioned and said second-mentioned terminals and movable into closed switch position and open switch position, and a fuse link for holding said fuse cartridge in the closed switch position when said fuse link is intact and adapted to permit the fuse cartridge to move to the open switch position when said fuse link is ruptured.

4. An electrical switch including an insulating housing disposed in a substantially horizontal position and open at the bottom, a terminal extended through and supported by a wall of said housing in such manner that a portion of said terminal is disposed within said housing and another portion of said terminal is extended outside of said housing, a second terminal extended through and supported by an opposite wall of said housing in such manner that a portion of said second terminal is disposed within said housing and another portion of said second terminal is extended outside of said housing, extensions formed on said housing which overhang the portions of the first-mentioned and second-mentioned terminals which are extended outside of the housing, a fuse cartridge for bridging said first-mentioned and second-mentioned terminals and movable into closed switch position and open switch position, and a fuse link for holding said fus cartridge in the closed switch position when said fuse link is intact and adapted to permit the fuse cartridge to move to the open switch position when said fuse link is ruptured.

5. An electrical switch including an insulating housing disposed in a substantially horizontal position and open at the bottom, a terminal supported by a wall of said housing in such manner that a portion of said terminal is disposed within said housing and another portion of said terminal is extended outside of said housing, a second terminal supported by an opposite wall of said housing in such manner that a portion of said second terminal isdisposed within said housing and another portion of said second terminal is extended outside of said housing, means for securing said first-mentioned and second-mentioned terminals to the walls by which they are supported, extensions formed on said housing which overhang the portions of the first-mentioned and second-mentioned terminals which are extended outside of the housing, a fuse cartridge for bridging said first-mentioned and second-mentioned terminals and movable into closed switch position and open switch position, and a fuse link for holding said fuse cartridge in the closed switch position when said fuse link is intact and adapted to permit the fuse cartridge to move to the open switch position when said fuse link is ruptured.

GEORGE ALBERT ELLIOTT. 

